Pier Pleasure

There are plenty of places to throw a line in St. Tammany Parish, and the Northshore has several fishing piers that enable you to fish without a boat. Just bring your own tackle, and you’ll be all set.

The Mandeville Pier at Sunset Point juts out 400 feet into Lake Pontchartrain, running just to the east and parallel to the Causeway bridge. There are benches at the pier’s lake end, a fish cleaning station and even picnic area on land, as well as plenty of parking. Best yet, it’s free. Over on the east side of the parish, the St. Tammany Fishing Pier in Slidell was created from the original I-10 Twinspans, which were damaged in Hurricane Katrina. Artificial reefs along the pier make it a popular spot for quick and easy fishing, and it’s a very scenic spot for sightseeing, as well. The free fishing piers in Madisonville were destroyed in Hurricane Isaac, but you can still launch a boat, crab, or fish off the banks at the end of Main Street. There’s a great view of the 19th-century Lighthouse off to the west. Finally, don’t forget the fishing pier in Fontainebleau State Park, which stretches out into Lake Pontchartrain.